souther



@lattes -ftittrs jettent GEORGE lYE ANU F. C. SOUTHER, 0F Sill'lll BUSTON, MASSACHUSE'TS.

Letters Patent Ifo. 53,559, dated April 2, 1857.

MPROVEMBNTN MAUHINE FOR GUTTNG STALKS IN THB HELD.

k dite Sdgemls numb tu in tigen tetten nrnt nu noting niet et tige 5mn.

TO ALL WHGM ITIVIAY CONCERN:

Be it known that we, GEORGE PYB and F. S. C. SOUTHER, of South Boston, in the county of Suffolk, and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and improved Machine for' Cutting Corn, Cane, and other Stalks; and We do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled 4in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming l part of this specication, in Which- Figure 1 isa sectional side view taken in the line acm, tig. 2.

Figure 2 isa plan or top View oi' the machine of our invention.

Similar lett-ers of reference indicate like parten.

, This invention relates to an improved machine for cutting the stalks of Indian corn, sugar cane, or other similar standing-plants in the field; and'consists of a double set of knives, (working transversely to the rows,) which are connected by gear ywith the driving-Wheels of a truck that travels between the rows. The framing and gear connnections are constructed with a. view to simplicity and lfacility in the arrangement, and to insure strength and durability.

A A are cast-iron driving-Wheels attached to axle B; 'they are made with a. broad tread, on which are placed or cast spurs or ribs,` aa, to give them greater tractive power. 0n the inside of the hubs ol' the Wheels, and 'forming a part thereof, are cast the journals and collars, bb, on which the rectangular east-iron or wooden rookingframe O-C is suspended, and attached to said frame are guards, D D, on each side of the wheels. The frame is Aso constructed, as will be seen by reference to figs. 1 and 2, that the cutting-knives can be placed and operated either before o1' after the driving-Wheels, with equal facility, by simply reversing the frame on its axes orjournals. .The cross-piece E' is a part of a rectangular frame supporting the cutting-knives F F, `which project from it laterally and horizontally, as shown in dg. 2. It will be seen by reference to iig. 1, that the frame C C is so constructed that "the cutting-knives shall be set as near down to the ground as may be necessary to perform the work required, and under the middle of the cross-piece E may be placed a small adjustable supporting guide-roller or Wheel,v G. The cutting-knives F F are fastened at their inner ends to slides c c, which traverse in the cross-piece E, and are Worked by adjustable cranks dd, on the ends of short shafts e e lying under or alongside of. frame C C, and are actuated by a small pinion, gg, engaging in the concentric toot-hed l rims 71, t on the inside of the drivingwhecls A. A. The concentric toothed rims are cast with and form a part ofthe driving-Wheels. It will be seen that when the machine travels the concentric toothed rims 7th will operate the pinions gg, and that the cranks a7 cl will give the cutting-knives F F a quick lateral or sawing motion which willinstantly sever the cane or corn-stalks when they come abreast of them. The edges of the knives may be serrated to make them more effective in cutting. The machine will be drawn by one or more horses, und the driver will be seatedin a convenient position over the frame, which will be connected with a lever under his immediate control for raising and lowering the cutting apparatus when required. The cutter slides will i be so arranged that the distance from centre to centre of motion of the knives shall be adjusted to conform to the Width, more or less, Vfrom centre to centre of the rows of stalks, Ste., to be out, and the knives may be secured to or form a part of the transverse slides. The pinions gg are thrown in or out of gear with the concentric toothed rimsjz it, so that the operation of the cutting-knife on either side may be suspended, while the vknife on the opposite side continues to work, or both knives may be held stationary, at the will of the driver, by

means of the clutches K K. i

i Having thus described our invention, what ive claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

- 1. The machine for cutting .c orn, cane, and other stalks in the field, constructed, arranged, and operating substantially as herein described.:

2. We claim, also, :the transverse sliding-knives F F, operated by the cranks d d, in` combination with the pinions gg, and the concentric toothed rims it lyon-thc driving-wheels AA, constructed and operating substantially as and for the purposes herein described.

` 3. We also claim the rocking-frame G C, and cross-bar E, in combination with the axle B, constructed and operating substantially asiand for the purposes herein described,

i y GEORGE Pre,

F. s. c.` soUTH'ER. Witnesses:

EDWABD LALLY, MIcHAEL A. TuoMPsoN. 

